Read our complete Cuisinart Griddler Review of model GR-4N below.

Table of Contents

The exact name of this model is the Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler. This is an indoor, counter top contact grill that has removable plates, adjustable temperature controls, and lots more features of the best selling models, but it costs less than some of its name brand competitors.

Features

Sturdy construction – brushed stainless steel housing

Floating cover – accommodates foods of various thickness

Wide panini-style handle

Removable, reversible, non-stick grill plates, all dishwasher safe

Slope plate design – allows grease to drain off foods

Adjustable temperature controls & function selector

Waffle Plates available (sold separately)

3 Year Limited Warranty

This grill is fairly compact, 11 1/2 inches by 13 1/2 inches, and the brushed stainless exterior gives it a bit of a stylish look. The floating cover allows you to cook thick or thin foods and also makes it perfect as a panini press. Another very nice feature is that this model has three control dials that let you adjust the heat based on the type of food you’re cooking.

For healthier eating, the slope grill plate design allows grease to drain from foods and into the drip tray at the rear of the unit.

For easier cleaning, all the grill plates are removable and dishwasher safe.

Those are the basics, but here’s one of the most attractive features of this product —

Unlike many other models in this price range, the Cuisinart Griddler will open completely so that the top folds all the way back to rest level on the counter. You can then grill or griddle on both plates at once, which doubles the available cooking surface area.

The photo at right shows the Griddler opened flat. Keep in mind that when used this way, the appliance will take up a lot more counter space, but if you have the room, there are times when all that extra cooking area could come in really handy!

I did find one possible drawback to the Cuisinart Griddler. In online reviews, some people complain that grease tends to pool on the grill plates rather than drain off into the drip tray. While I wouldn’t completely discount those concerns, the first thing to be aware of is that you must use this grill on a level surface. You may be surprised to find out that your kitchen countertop isn’t as level as you think, especially if you live in an older dwelling. Several owners reported that they solved the problem easily by placing something under the front legs of the unit to elevate it slightly (the grease needs to flow from front to back because the drip tray is located at the back of the unit). Poor drainage would definitely be a big downside, but I found that on balance, a lot more owners reported that drainage was not a problem at all.

Adjustable Controls on the Cuisinart Griddler (click image to see enlarged view – opens in new window or tab)

Adjustable Temperature Settings – The GR-4N gives you a lot of control over cooking temperatures. It has 3 dials, all located on the front:

The center knob lets you select between the Griddle Function or the Grill/Panini Function

The left knob lets you select temperature range from 200°F to 425°F when using the appliance as full griddle.

The right knob lets you adjust the setting from “warm” to “sear” when using the appliance as a contact grill, panini press or full grill.

When you use the unit as a Half Grill, Half Griddle, you can use either of the dials for selecting a temperature setting.

This level of heat control is a big plus for anyone who plans to use the grill a lot and cook a variety of foods.

Though the unit includes only two plates, they are reversible. Because of that and the fact that the grill will open completely flat, you can use this unit in 5 different ways, as a:

Contact Grill

Panini Press

Full Grill

Full Griddle

Half Grill, Half Griddle

Half Grill, Half Griddle – Cuisinart Griddler opened flat with flat griddle plate on one side and ribbed grill plate on other side

What is a “Half Grill, Half Griddle”? This just means that since the plates are reversible and interchangeable, you have the option to use a flat griddle plate on one side and a ribbed grill plate on the other.

Optional Accessories

Waffle Plates: Sold separately, these non-stick baking plates are also dishwasher safe. They are designed to make deep pocketed, 3/4″ thick Belgian waffles. You can bake 4 waffles at a time.

Note: If you’re comparing models, you’ll find that the waffle plates for the Cuisinart Griddler cost a good bit more than those for the George Foreman e GRP4EP. However, based on my research, I think you can buy the Cuisinart Griddler AND its waffle plates for less than what you’ll pay for the George Foreman GRP4EP alone (with no additional grill plates).

These waffle plates can be ordered directly from the manufacturer’s website, but they’re also almost always available on Amazon. You’ll definitely want to check Amazon’s price on them before you buy.

Customer Reviews

As is not uncommon, you’ll find the usual bad reviews online from folks who received a damaged or malfunctioning unit, and they either never bothered to attempt a return, or they did receive a return or refund and good customer service yet still gave only a 1 Star review. To my mind this hardly seems fair. As far as I can determine, Cuisinart stands behind its products and honors their warranties. Nowhere could I find any evidence to the contrary.

Also worth mentioning is that you may find this grill a bit bulky for storage. There is no way to lock the unit closed so that it could be stored upright (on its side), and the handle will take up some extra space in your cabinet or pantry.

On the positive side, thousands of owners give the GR-4N rave reviews. They absolutely love using it as a panini press, as well as for cooking all kinds of meats, vegetables, pancakes, eggs and other breakfast foods. Many of them mentioned how much they enjoy having the larger cooking surface when the grill is opened flat.

A few folks mentioned that removing the plates was a little tricky until they got the hang of it, but they had no regrets. The removable plates make cleanup so quick and easy they would never go back to a grill that doesn’t have them.

Average Customer Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4.4

Cuisinart Griddler vs. Breville Smart Grill

If you’re debating between this Cuisinart model and the much pricier Breville counter top grill, note the difference in ratings. The Breville ranks higher at 4.6, but that average is based on right at 400 online reviews.

The average rating on the Griddler is lower at 4.4, but it is based on over 7,600 online reviews! That speaks extremely well of this model, and the number of reviews alone tells you that the Griddler sells incredibly well.

Cons

Cuisinart Griddler Review – GR-4N: Summary

This is a compact little indoor grill with a lot to offer. It has all the best features of any grill in this price range, plus it offers the “open flat” option that lets you double your cooking area when you need to. The two included plates make it quite versatile, and if you like you can also buy the waffle plates to give your appliance one more function.

For all it offers, the cost is reasonable and far less than a lot of comparable models.

Considering the tremendous number of excellent reviews, the Cuisinart Griddler comes in as a top pick because it’s such a good value for this price range and has a high level of overall consumer satisfaction.

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